ATTITUDES OF CONSULTANT ANESTHETISTS TO THE CALMAN PROPOSALS - A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

We undertook a postal survey to determine the views of all consultant anaesthetists within the North West (Mersey) Regional Health Authority on the Calman proposals for a consultant-based service; replies were received from 110 (84%). Fifty (45%) indicated that they would not res ume emergency residential duties, 32 (29%) indicated that they would w ithdraw from the emergency duty rota, 12 (11%) said they would withdra w/retire from the NHS and 27 (25%) would change hospital under these c ircumstances. Most consultants had experience in the major anaesthetic sub-specialties within the preceding 5 years (obstetrics 67%, ITU 81% , major trauma 91%). Consequently the need for retraining amongst cons ultant anaesthetists prior to resuming residential emergency duties wo uld be low. When questioned about the impact on anaesthetic services, 67 (61%) felt the proposals would be detrimental whilst 23 (21%) felt there would be beneficial effects. Most consultants remain antagonisti c toward the Calman proposals, with a reluctance to return to resident ial duties.